Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on April 26, 2005, to limit the ability of a grandparent to petition for visitation when a stepparent has adopted a child. This would be allowed only in cases where the son or daughter of the grandparents (and parent of the child in question) is diseased. It would establish that the adoption of a child by a stepparent would not terminate the right of a parent of a deceased parent of the child to petition for grandparenting time. See Public Act 542 of 2004, and House Bill 5602

The vote was 38 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 476 at Senate Journal 56)

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Senator Clark-Coleman asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal. The motion prevailed. Senator Clark-Coleman's statement is as follows: I rise to ask your support of Senate Bill No.420. Quite simply, this measure amends the grandparent visitation statute to correct a drafting error. In January 2005, the grandparent visitation bill was signed into law after having been unanimously passed by the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate. The law created new rights for grandparents following a Michigan Supreme Court decision which held Michigan's old law to be unconstitutional. The Michigan Supreme Court asked the Michigan Legislature to redraft the Michigan law in order to make the law constitutional to provide for grandparents and grandchildren to have access to see each other under certain circumstances. The grandparents visitation statute signed into law last year inadvertently expanded grandparent visitation in stepparent adoption cases. Current law terminates the right of a grandparent to file an action for grandparenting time when a child is adopted or is placed for adoption. Now, adoption by a stepparent, however, does not terminate the right of a grandparent to bring an action for grandparenting time. The bill before the committee limits grandparenting time actions in stepparent adoption situations to grandparents whose own child is deceased. Last year's statute allowed all grandparents some standing. This bill would return the law to its prior state. This bipartisan measure was unanimously supported in committee. I ask that we do the same thing on the Senate floor.

HB 5602 and SB 420 and 727 Grandparenting time. Declared only a slice to grant visits,almost seems to OUTPUT reasonable request for grandparents. It is clear Supreme courts,Legislatures didNOT approve theIn The 5th degree relative part,Except child adopted by stepparent-Under Adoption. What has all Bills done to Help Childs right to continued loving bond? What about Maternal-Paternal Grandparents adoptions,Legislatures were trying hard to input visitation,please all,but didNOT amount to much worsten effects uplift court battles to continue. Forgot about"Maternal-Paternal grandparents in 1st degree, who adopt, one side loses,child suffers. ADD- a child that is adopted by Maternal- Paternal Grandparents,said grandchild becomes an heir at law,collateral kindred of grandparents, The 1st degree Maternal or paternal grandparents of said grandchild,with or without heir name change may be granted reasonable visitation or mediationServices Without discrimination to either side 1st degree . EQUAL CHILD RIGHTS EQUAL RIGHTS TO EITHER SIDE. To input this ADD-710.60(2B)-heir name clause. Will not interfere with Parents,or New family unit adoptions. This will only give EQUAL rights in the 1st degree,to Maternal or Paternal adoptions,that all Members of Legislatures seem to have forgot. Most Michigan children are being raised-adopted by grandparents in 1st degree. OR input-under 710.59-Desire name change etc. ADD-710.59(1)a)-A GRANDCHILD ADOPTED BY PATERNAL OR MATERNAL GRANPARENTS,WITH OR WITHOUT HEIR NAME CHANGE ,THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT VISITATION, MEDIATION SERVICES TO GRANDPARENTS IN 1ST DEGREE.

clearly seems legislature has been using heirname clause to seek in tidbits,other then its purposed action,??immunity??but rejected to add,simple words or adoption by stepparent or grandparent,does not prohibit grandparenting time.If adoptee is aloted to inheritance,then adoptive grandparents should give visits to other first degree grandparents. Sanborn,patterson,sponsors sb767,4104,4105,5039,420,all that but left out or words grandparents 1st degree who adopt. then house,senate,caused mix mess up with Parents rights,barcia,allen,garcia,coleman,2Cents. they should of held there ground,up for 767, added in the 1 degree, Veteran say did not like 727,one sided discrimination was a copout, parents right will always override,but seems legislature 727 didNot amount to beans. Favors in Legislature have more value,then a childs right to continued bond, child is adopted by Grandps,other side need visits yea, adopted by steparent,words OR grandparent 1st would not of caused harm to Parentsright.

The smart Legislatures knew very well,14 Amend of Parental Rights would always be presumption. Burden of Proof on grandparents was already there. Best interest of Child Factors are still there. How can you proof preponderance of evidence, risk of harm Without using Best interest child Factors? There is No differents, Supreme Court stated that Courts should not just use visitation basis just on Best interest factors. Adoptive Grandparents are,relatives 1st degree and Adoptive Relative are,related by blood,5th degree. All the reasons used Under the new statute, to put in New Grandparent Stand,pending divorce,deceased parent,paternity established,legal custody other then parent,established environment for grandchild All those statues were there. If you were Not going to allow,Except an Adoption including stepparent and Grandparent. Then you have ended up with nothing. Nothing to help Grandparents. Nothing to help birthparents. Nothing to help Children rights in Need. Nothing to help equal Maternal or Paternal Nothing to help Courts decide. Nothing better then before. FallbackProvisionBS Lawyers and Legislature make decisions based on "Something thats already there" then turn around, litigating for opposite effect,of what all the grandparents were trying to get Voted. Which had nothing to do with Parental Right. Blind Faith. Legislature did what Lawyer wanted,so they could have more cases,force parents to hate grandparents more and created harm of Child bond to Grandparent

With adoption by grandparent,mothers only,dads too relatives,and gays, social society is changing but michigan goes backward. i agree to many cooks in the kitchen,burnt the beans.spoiled for everyone. with 6 new bills to choose they choose worst 727 other states know values of childs bond feelings. campaign is being formed to vote out law makers whom didnot vote for or whom forgot to include the simple words @ OR GRANDPARENTS after all they are the ones a so called new law been revised for. them that are not smart enough to see the light and throw out a good provision,need not apply . best interest of child factors will be there. i agree 1st degree blood grandparents willnot be a new family adoption unit,other grandparents should have equal right to continued bond with grandchild

Adoption by stepparent or a grandparent in first degree ,other first degree grandparents shall still have a right to visits,that is the best provision the michigan legistures votes can and should do for children rights to needed social positive reaction.

Adoption by a StepParent or Clear Courts Agency, Foster Adoptions,Are All Different Adoptions Indeed. A GrandChild Adoption By 1stDeG GrandParents Are Not A New Family Intact, Children Need Both GrandParent On BothSides, Each GrandParent Is,Can Be Loved By A GrandChild. 1stDeG Adoptive GrandParents Better Think,In The Long Run,This Would Be A Forward Move To Help All. There Should Be No Risk To ParentRights New Family ,Nor Will 1stDeG Adoptive GrandParents, If Senates Passed A Matter Of Best Interest Of Child Factors. Indeed It Makes For Common Ground,Most GrandParent Who Adopt,Need Help,Itis a Heavy Joy,Children Also Would Still Have Stable Benefit,Must Prove Fitness Under The Order Of Adoption Laws, To InClude The 1stDeG. GrandParents Adopting GrandChild, Both Maternal Or Paternal 1stDeg.Only,Have Visitation. Legislatures Key To Solve Childrens Needs Would Be A Smart Move Forward To Vote, 1stDeG.GrandParents Shall Have Right To Visits, If 1st.DeG.Adopts Only Even If Its Just A Week Or Two In Summers.

Dear Senator Clark and Legislators Why do you have the meaning of "Relatives" in the Adoption Laws but have NO provision for Relatives? Steppart Adoptions are NOT same as Direct Adoption RELATIVE adopt r NOT same as GRANDparent Adoption Seems clear discrimination on effects of who gets child,maternal or paternal sides. DIFFERENT ADOPTIONS NEED DIFFERENT CODE LAWS. WHEN IT INPUTS "GRANDPARENT VISITATION RIGHTS" If a child is adopted by a NONrelative is a direct or closed court agency adoption,NEW FAMILY UNIT. Uncle or Sister or Stepparent adoptions differ from Grandparent adoptions,ALL adoptions should be equal to do this must have different laws to cover the meaning behind "RELATIVE" . STEPparent adoption is NOT same as Grandparent. Grandparents rights to visit a grandchild if the grandchild is adopted by grandparent should be a different input, UNDER "EXCEPT IF" child is adopted by GRANDPARENT clause that you seem to be NONthinking about best interest of child and giving out visitation basicly to NO child. except the deadparent of stepparent rule. Put words "EXCEPT A CHILD ADOPTED BY GRANDPARENT" DOESNOT PROHIBIT VISITATION BY GRANDPARENT .

South Dakota legislature got it right,and otherl equal right states, " 25-4-54"  Visitation rights of grandparents,child placed for adoption. The provisions of of 25-4-52 to 25-4-54 inclusive, do Not apply if the child has been placed fo adoption with a person other than the childs stepparent or GRANDPARENTS. placement of child for adoption.

The AARP and smart Senators of Michigan are trying to input,open this 710.56 adoption code to ADD_ON a number (6) to which all Grandparents should write to Congress Senate to demand reopening. I agree,in adoption the parents rights are sign out,thereby when 710.44  5(b,d) apply to adoptive grandparents ,separate statement to get sign consent,like visits ect.to avoid "Misrepresentation fraud, this idea to alot other grandparents to visits, should of been inputed along time ago. Without discrimination.It would make sense to have both sets proven fit grandparents to be in CHILDs life bond,care of ,vacation ,give other help, support money wise .

ALL Grandparents Please write to your state Senators and DEMAND EQUAL RIGHTS .

""As followed--AMEND ADOPTION CODE 710.56 (6) ""EXCEPT if a child is adopted by a GRANDPARENTS be it maternal/paternal this does NOT prohibit either GRANDPARENT to petition for visitation in the best interest of child factors. ""    Prima facto evidence.